[One year clinical and ultrasonographic follow up of the pilot study for the referral of patients with early spondyloarthritis (ESPIDEP)]

Abstract

Objectives: To characterize a cohort of early spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients, to demonstrate the usefulness of enthesis ultrasonography for the diagnosis and follow up, and to develop a statistical model to predict persitent activity.

Patients and methods: A 1 year prospective study with clinical, radiological and ultrasonographic evaluations was performed in patients with SpA from the Pilot Study for the Referral of Patients with Early SpA (ESPIDEP). Enthesis ultrasonography was explored by the MAdrid Sonographic Enthesis Index (MASEI), and its diagnostic utility was determined to be a cutoff score of ≥ 18 points. The clinical, radiological and MASEI scores were studied. Finally, a statistical model from factors predicting persitent activity was developed.

Results: A 1 year follow-up of 32 patients was carried out. The baseline MASEI reached a sensitivity and specificity of 78,12% and 84,37% respectively, positive and negative predictive value was 83,3% and 79,41% respectively, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were 5 and 0,26, respectively. The improvement of BASMI and the MASEI scores were significant (p = 0,001 and p = 0,007, respectively). From the beginning, women had more peripheral affectation, and men had higher axial radiological progression and higher CRP (p < 0,05).The statistical model that best predicted persitent activity was constituted by nocturnal back pain, BASDAI and CRP.

Conclusions: Enthesis ultrasonography can be useful when begining the evaluation and follow-up of early SpA. Disease patterns are different according to sex. The ability to predict persitent activity in early stages supports the use of more intensive treatments.